Stockholm court upholds warrant for WikiLeaks founder

There is still probable cause for suspicion against Assange for rape in 2010, court says

STOCKHOLM (AA) – A district court in Stockholm ruled Wednesday to not lift the arrest warrant of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is accused of raping a woman in 2010, according to a statement.

Assange, who claims all charges against him are baseless and politically motivated, has been staying since June 19, 2012 at the Ecuador embassy in London, where he was granted political asylum.

According to the court’s statement, there was still probable cause for suspicion against Assange for rape.

Assange was out on bail when he claimed asylum in Ecuador’s London embassy in 2012 after losing his appeal in the U.K. Supreme Court against extradition to Sweden, where a judicial investigation was initiated against him in connection with allegations of sexual misconduct. However, he was not formally charged.

In 2015, Swedish prosecutors dropped the two sexual assault claims against Assange but the rape accusation remains.

The WikiLeaks founder launched a complaint against Sweden and the U.K. in 2014, claiming he was being "arbitrarily detained" because he could not leave the Ecuadorian embassy without being arrested.